The WORST episodes of The Cosby Show
Every episode of The Cosby Show ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Cosby Show!
Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable was an OBGYN (obstetrician/gynecologist), and his wife Clair was a successful attorney. They had five children: Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy. Sondra was rarely seen during the first season because she was away at Princeton. She became a regular character in the second season, and was usually seen with her on-again off-again beau, Elvin. They eventually married and had twins; but not before stunning their families by announcing the fact that Elvin was dropping out of medical school to open a camping store, and Sondra was dropping out of law school to help her husband in his endeavor. Denise was the "unique" child, the black sheep of the family. She had her own way of doing things, right down to the style of clothing she wore. After graduating high school, she left for Hillman College in 1986 (a year later, this would become the setting for the spin-off A Different World), but returned two years later with news that she was dropping ou
#1 - Period of Adjustment
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1990
Clair's teenage second cousin moves in with the family. Erika Alexander joins the cast as Pam. First appearances of Karen Malina White as Charmaine, Allen Payne as Lance, and Mushond Lee as Slide.
#2 - Pam Applies to College
Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/1991
Pam realizes that her poor grades will prevent her from attending the same college as her best friend.
#3 - Just Thinking About It (2)
Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/1/1990
Pam and Slide argue over whether they should become sexually active.
#4 - Just Thinking About It (1)
Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/1/1990
Under pressure from her boyfriend to become sexually active, Pam considers using birth control. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. Mushond Lee as Slide.
#5 - Attack of the Killer B's
Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/10/1991
Pam's grades have improved, but she worries that she will not be able to afford college. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. Mushond Lee as Slide.
#6 - Shakespeare
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/1987
Christopher Plummer and Roscoe Lee Browne appear. Theo must read Julius Caesar for school, but complains that it is boring. Russel and his friends read scenes from the play aloud, and Theo is enthralled. Later, the men read from a different work of literature-a story Rudy wrote!
#7 - Denise Kendall: Singles Counselor
Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/18/1990
Denise causes trouble while trying to help Vanessa get a date.
#8 - 57 Varieties
Season 5 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/11/1989
Theo wants to go to Egypt for an archaeological dig. Reno Wilson as Howard. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Deon Richmond as Kenny.
#9 - Cliff's Nightmare
Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/11/1990
Guest appearance by The Muppets (Performed by Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, and Kevin Clash.) Voice-over by Wallace Shawn.
#10 - Once Upon a Time
Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/18/1988
Rudy writes a fairy tale, and the colorful story is acted out in her fantasy. Members of the family play the roles of a village full of happy people and a mean group that ruins their fun. At the end of the episode, Rudy declares that when she becomes "president of the world", she will put a stop to all mean people. Cliff and Clair proceed to watch news reports of weapons' testing and bombings, and urge her to "hurry, because we need you right now." Earle Hyman as Russell.
#11 - Clair's Reunion
Season 8 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/20/1992
Clair and her college friends plan a retirement party for a former professor.
#12 - Cliff and Jake
Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/11/1991
Clair tries to prevent Cliff from buying a new appliance from his friend Jake. Lost episode from Season 6. Guest appearances by Red Buttons and E. G. Marshall. Last appearance of Lisa Bonet as Denise.
#13 - Clair's Liberation
Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/6/1990
Clair enters menopause. She takes the news fine, but the kids treat her as if she's losing her mind.
#14 - You Can't Stop the Music
Season 8 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/26/1992
Cliff and Clair go to a local radio station for a live salsa performance.
#15 - Hillman
Season 3 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/7/1987
The Huxtable family goes to Hillman College to attend a ceremony in honor of its president's retirement. Guest appearance by Joe Seneca. Filmed at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. The episode serves as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff series A Different World, which premieres in the fall of 1987.
#16 - Olivia's Field Trip
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/7/1991
Cliff chaperones Olivia's field trip to the museum, while Theo falls victim to a scammer.
#17 - Theo's Dirty Laundry
Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/15/1990
Cliff and Clair discover that Theo has moved in with Justine. Last Appearance Of Michelle Thomas as Justine. Victoria Rowell as Paula.
#18 - No More Mr. Nice Guy
Season 7 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/28/1991
Theo's friend Denny thinks his girlfriend is cheating on him.
#19 - Eat, Drink and Be Wary
Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/30/1992
Rudy and her friends want to ride the subway.
#20 - Warning: A Double-Lit Candle Can Cause a Meltdown
Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/17/1991
When Rudy and her friends lie to their parents to get into an age-restricted club, Pam, Lance and Charmaine spy on them.
#21 - What He Did for Love
Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/27/1989
Theo's friend Denny finds an expensive watch and gives it to his girlfriend, but it is soon revealed to be stolen merchandise. Troy Winbush as Denny. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Vanessa A. Williams as Jade.
#22 - There's Still No Joy in Mudville
Season 7 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/4/1991
Cliff goes bowling with his friends.
#23 - It's a Boy
Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/29/1990
The husband of one of Cliff's patients worries that he will be a poor father because he has no athletic ability. After Pam breaks up with Slide, she and the class brain are attracted to each other.
#24 - Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten
Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/26/1989
Clair appears as a panelist on a local Sunday morning talk show entitled "Retrospective". Clair buys a new couch and Cliff tries to keep the old one. Clair's law firm is identified as Greentree, Bradley & Dexter.
#25 - The Shower
Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/26/1987
Denise holds a bridal shower for her pregnant and bride-to-be friend Veronica, but finds out some disturbing information. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable, although mentioned.